MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE
				 Community Section
		     Vol. 3, No. 18, November 17-30, 1995, p. 7


		Barefoot hikers set feet free


	  Who says you need to spend $80 on a pair of hiking boots to
	hit the Bay Area's most popular trails?
	  The Barefoot Hikers group certainly doesn't; in fact, shoes
	are an unwelcome accessory.
	  A chapter of the Barefoot Hikers has debuted right here in the
	Mountain View area and is open to anyone interested in kicking
	off their shoes to walk as nature intended.
	  The idea behind hiking barefoot is basically that it is
	pleasurable, said Paul Lucas, the Mountain View resident who
	formed the local group, promotes it and coordinates hikes.
	  "The varied texture of soft soil, moss, and pine needles give
	a sensation like a foot massage," Lucas said.
	  The other benefits include less blistering and stronger foot
	muscles.  Wearing shoes keeps foot muscles relatively immobile
	and over time, one can lose muscle tissue.
	  The question Lucas is most used to hearing is how do hikers
	avoid the usual dangers of glass, rocks, and other unforseen
	sharp objects?  Location plays a big part.  Lucas says the
	trails in Wunderlich Park, Castle Rock, and other frequented
	areas in the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains are well preserved,
	without a lot of hazardous debris.
	  "You're more apt to step on glass while quickly running into
	a 7-11 barefoot than you are hiking barefoot for a few hours,"
	Lucas said.
	  In addition, Lucas instructs beginners to walk using the more
	sensitive ball of the foot first, feeling out each step before
	applying their full weight.
	  Hiking barefoot is not a new phenomena, Lucas said, as
	chapters in Connecticut and North Carolina have been running
	hikes for over three years.
	  All ages and backgrounds, including families with children
	embark on these hikes.  The hikes usually last for two to three
	hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning or afternoon.
	  The group's motto: "Set your feet free and your mind will
	follow."

						-- Tracey McLachlan


	(Reprinted with permission of the Mountain View Voice.)